Biomechanical Study of the Fixation Plates For Opening Wedge High Tibial Osteotomy
Kug Jin Kim1, Eun Kyoo Song2, Jong Keun Seon2
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wolchul Ki-Chan Hospital, Yeongam, Korea.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanical stability of three types of plate systems for opening wedge high tibial osteotomy.
Materials And Methods:
Forty-eight fresh frozen porcine tibia specimens were assigned to three different fixation device groups: Aescular group (16 specimens) was fixed with Aescular plates; Puddu group (16 specimens) with a Puddu plate, and TomoFix group (16 specimens) with a TomoFix plate. We compared axial displacements under compression loads from 200 to 2,000 N and maximal loads at failure among 8 specimens per group. We also compared displacements under cyclic load after 100 cycles at a compressive load of 2,000 N among 8 specimens per group.
Results:
In all three groups, displacement under compression load increased with the increase in the axial compressive load; however, no significant intergroup differences were observed in the mean values under tested loading conditions. The mean maximal loads at failure were not significantly different (6,055, 6,798, and 6,973 N in the Aescular, Puddu, and TomoFix groups, respectively; p=0.41). While the TomoFix group showed less extension and strain during the cyclic load test, the mean values showed no significant differences among groups.
Conclusions:
All three plate systems were found to provide fixation stability suitable for bearing axial compression and cyclic loads while walking.
